Nokia has announced it is readying new software updates for three handsets in its Windows Phone-powered Lumia range, containing numerous improvements and fixes.

The Finnish phone-maker has revealed that it will be rolling out firmware bumps for the Lumia 920, the Lumia 820 and the Lumia 620 in the coming weeks.

The Lumia 920 and 820 will receive firmware version 1232.5957.1308.00xx, which brings improved automatic display brightness adjustment, a fix for a bizarre issue where the screen intermittently goes blank during calls and various performance and stability improvements.

The Lumia 620, meanwhile, will get a much chunkier firmware update 1030.6407.1308.00xx, which adds improved touchscreen functions, including corrections in multi-touch action and better voice quality with Bluetooth headsets that support echo/noise reduction. It also comes with enhanced camera performance when flash is used and optimisations to system stability, usability and performance.

Nokia said that a notification will pop-up when the updates are ready for your handset, which will presumably be available as over-the-air downloads. The exact software version received (to replace the ‘xx’) will vary between different regions.

Have you had any issues with your Nokia Lumia handset? Tell us in the comments section below.

Via:

Nokia Discussions

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BlackBerry is set to roll out its first major software update for BlackBerry 10 since the new operating system debuted earlier this year, reports suggest.

According to sources familiar with developments, BlackBerry is preparing version 10.1 of its revamped mobile OS, which will purportedly ship with the soon-to-drop QWERTY keyboard-equipped BlackBerry Q10.

Among the improvements it’s mooted to bring include faster camera shutter and superior low-light snapping courtesy of High Dynamic Range (HDR) support. It’s also said to pack new features, such as mnemonic phone dialling, keyboard shortcuts (for the BlackBerry Z10), Word Prediction, and Type N Go, which comprise various commands for universal search.

Elsewhere, the update purportedly packs enhancements to BlackBerry Balance, including separation of work and personal accounts in the BlackBerry Hub, ‘Dark Theme’ support for several native features and applications, Smart Card Reader 2.0 compatibility and an improved version of BlackBerry Link to enable connection between BlackBerry 10 and a PC for easier transfer of files.

BlackBerry Z10 users are expected to receive the platform bump via an over-the-air update. Alas, an ETA for the rollout is as-yet under wraps. Rest assured, we’ll bring you this as soon as we know.

Via:

Phone Arena

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The majority of smartphone fans don’t feel that iPhone owners are missing out on Facebook’s new Home app-cum-social networking skin, it has emerged, after it was confirmed that it would be exclusive to Android handsets.

Unveiled last week, Facebook Home effectively takes over the look and feel of handsets, putting the social networking service slap bang on its homescreen and at the core of the user interface.

Founder Mark Zuckerberg said he would have liked to bring it to the iPhone, but that Apple’s tight restrictions and insistence on controlling its handsets’ user experience kyboshed any chances of that happening.

However, judging by the reaction from smartphone fans in a uSwitch Tech poll, Facebook Home isn’t exactly top of many people’s iPhone app wishlists.

Asked whether they felt that iPhone users are missing out by not being able to download the app, 79.22 per cent (879 people) answered no. Pretty emphatic we’re sure you’ll agree.

Whether that’s a reflection on the perceived quality of the app or privacy concerns isn’t clear. But we think not.

The result is probably more informed by iPhone owners’ innate tendency to favour simple, clear usability of iOS above the freedom to customise a phone’s layout that Android offers.

Either that, or, after years of doomsaying in the tech press, the Facebook bubble might really have burst.

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Facebook has brushed aside rumours that it’s in discussions with Apple to bring Facebook Home to iOS.

Bloomberg reported yesterday that The Social Network is in talks with Apple over the possibility of expanding its freshly launched bespoke Android launcher to the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

Adam Mosseri, Facebook’s Director of Product, told the biz news outlet: “We’ve shown them what we’ve built and we’re just in an ongoing conversation.”

He added, however, that it would ultimately be Apple’s call as to how Facebook Home is integrated with iOS, meaning it could look distinctly different from its Android counterpart.

“It may or may not be Home,” said Mosseri. “We could also just bring some of the design values to the iOS app. That might be how it ends up. Or we could build just the lock screen. Maybe then it’s not called Home, it’s called something else.”

Today, The Next Web reports that it’s been told by Facebook that although it has “good relationships with both Apple and Microsoft, right now no discussions have taken place to bring Home to those platforms”.

It’s likely that Facebook has only approached Apple and Microsoft to demonstrate Home and what possibilities it offers rather than enter actual negotiations to make it available on iOS and Windows Phone.

That said, the social networking giant doesn’t necessarily rule out eventually moving Facebook Home to newer pastures and making it available to as many of its billion users as possible.

After the unveiling of Facebook Home earlier this month, Mark Zuckerberg told Fortune: “We’d love to offer this on iPhone, and we just can’t today, and we will work with Apple to do the best experience that we can within what they want.”

Unfortunately for The Zuck, iPhone owners don’t quite feel the same the way. In a uSwitch Tech poll, eight out of 10 iFans said they won’t miss Facebook Home on their handsets.

Still, for the remaining two that will miss it, Facebook has just brought one of its main features in Home: ‘Chat Heads’, in a new update to its official iOS app.

Chat Heads, if you’re unaware, lets you have a conversation with a group of friends as pop-up bubbles over the screen while you’re doing other things. Unfortunately, on iOS it only works within the Facebook app and doesn’t come with SMS integration like the Android version does.

Via:

The Next Web, Bloomberg

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Orange’s free-to-download Libon app has landed on Android, amid increasing competition for marketshare among messaging applications.

The arrival of the app, which offers free calls, instant messaging and visual voicemail and was previously exclusive to the iPhone, on Google’s platform means that users will be able communicate across the two platforms for the first time.

Alongside free HD quality, national and international voice calls between Libon users, of particular appeal is that the visual voicemail aspect of the app that works independently of the phone owner’s carrier.

This feature, which some UK networks still do not offer, lists users’ voicemails on their handset’s display to make getting up to speed with them easier and converts voice messages to text.

Libon head Giles Corbett said: “The launch of Libon on Android was an absolute must.

“It’s overtaken iOS numbers in the smartphone wars and we’re very excited to finally offer something to the thousands of users who have been asking about this.”

The advent of the Android iteration compatible with all kits running version 2.2 (Froyo) or above comes as Libon launches a revamped take on its iPhone incarnation.

Up for grabs now from the App Store, Libon Take 2.2 for iOS adds picture and voice messaging for the first time.

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Sky Go is expanding onto more Android devices, with news that it’s coming to the Sony Xperia Z, the HTC One and the soon-to-land Samsung Galaxy S4.

Owners of the three flagship smartphones will soon be able to enjoy Sky’s programming on the move, joining a relatively small family of handsets and tablets currently supported by the Sky Go application.

Sky Go became available to select devices powered by Android Jelly Bean in December. However, since then it has been slow to arrive on newer gadgets, such as the Google Nexus 10, for which Sky has been heavily criticised by customers.

Well, fortunately it looks like the Pay TV giant is finally getting its act together. It has already confirmed that the service would be coming to the wider Android ecosystem as the year progresses.

Of course, it also means great news for any of you picking up Samsung’s latest hero kit, which goes on sale on April 27th.

If you haven’t already done so, the S4 is currently on pre-order with Three, O2, Vodafone, EE, T-Mobile and Vodafone.

TalkTalk Mobile will also start taking pre-orders from Monday, while Virgin Media is expected to join the party soon.

Got a Sony Xperia Z or HTC One? You can download the Sky Go app for free from the Google Play store right now.

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Google Now has at long last landed on the iPhone and iPad, bringing live updates for news, interests and vital information that were previously exclusive to the Android operating system.

Google released a new version of its official iOS app on the App Store, now augmented with the widely acclaimed features of its clever data assistant on Android.

Using a nifty card-based interface, Google Now updates you with information throughout the day, such as live weather for your home, work or current location, scores for your favourite teams, traffic updates on your next likely destination, flight status and commute times on public transit.

Users also benefit from reminders on their next calendar appointments, showtimes for movies, stock updates, breaking news and the ability to track packages.

The update’s arrival, which long thought to have been obstructed by Apple, means Google has now effectively positioned a proverbial Trojan horse in Apple’s platform, with the ability to compete with Siri and other onboard applications.

The app is free to download right now for the iPhone and iPad from the App Store and we strongly recommend you check it out.

Let us know what you think of Google Now’s appearance on the iPhone in the comments section below.

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Google is pushing the boundaries of Apple’s iOS regulations, after it revealed a new Chrome API for Cupertino’s mobile operating system.

The new software allows devs to tweak apps so that users can access Chrome for iOS when web browsing in-app.

What’s more, users with Chrome installed will be able to open pages directly in Google’s browser when following links.

Until now, Safari has been the default option for users flicking from an app to their browser.

The new tool will allow developers to offer end users the choice of opening web-based material in either Safari or Chrome.

It comes just days after Google updated its Gmail iOS app to allow links within its Apple-flavoured email client to be opened in Chrome.

With Cupertino currently cracking down on App Store-aping add-ons, this is no time for Mountain View to provoke Tim Cook and co.

After unveiling an update which allows Gmail for iOS to bypass Apple Maps and head for Google Maps instead, this is the latest move in an attempt to give fans of Big G apps on Apple’s platform a better service.

Whether Apple sees it like that is another matter.

Source:

Electronista

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